Upgrade Server to PHP 5 - No APC, only Zend & Ioncube?

[Revolution Yes]

Hi, i hope this is in the correct forum:

As per vBulletin's advise I have asked my host (hostgator) to upgrade the server that my accounts are on from PHP 4.4.4 and mysql 4 to PHP 5 and mysql 5.

They have told me that I can request a new account on an upgraded server, and that they will transfer my sites over for me. That's all fine and good.

However, they have also told me the following:

"Please note as per your original request, we do not have APC. We only
have Zend Optimizer and Ioncube compiled with PHP."

Can anyone tell me whether this is okay for vbulletin requirements? Do I need 'APC'? and is Zend Optimiser and Ioncube ok to run with, or should I seek alternative means? I just don't want to transfer my account and end up with something which isn't suitable for vB.

Cheers for anyhelp/advise

[Kier]

Zend Optimizer is not really comparable with APC - it provides a very modest performance benefit, but nothing like the truly massive increase that APC will give you.

The primary way APC delivers this huge performance boost is to cache PHP scripts in the compiled state, so that once one user has visited index.php, the next user will not have to wait for the script to compile before it runs. On a busy server this adds up to a collossal increase in speed.

I'd recommend that all hosts deploy APC - it's free and it hugely cuts the load on your servers.

vBulletin does not require APC, but given the performance boost, it's highly recommended.

[Kier]

Oh, and be sure to specify PHP 5.2.5 - there are huge differences between PHP 5, 5.1. and 5.2.

[Revolution Yes]

Thanks for your reply Kier, that's extremely helpful!

I would have thought that a leading hosting company like Hostagator would have such features (APC) available - especially if it's free

From their response I doubt they will make APC available, but I will ask them, as surely this would benefit alot of their customers - the increase in performance that it would offer is fairly key for me, that's for sure.


Oh and thanks for the heads up regarding specifiying the exact PHP, i'll be sure to do that.

[Revolution Yes]

Hi,

I'm still in discussions with hostgator about moving my reseller accounts which host a couple of vBulletin sites and I feel like i'm going round the houses to a server with both php 5.2.5 and mysql 5.

I've asked them on several occassions if they can clarify whether my account would specfically be moved to a server with PHP 5.2.5 and Mysql 5, and i've finally got an answer:

Hello,

This would require us to move your accounts to a new server. We can do
this one of two ways.

The first way would be to move your account and all of its files to the
new server. We would have to create a new account for you in billing,
and then get your accounts transferred. Once they are moved we will
send you the new DNS info, and you will have to update your DNS. Then make
sure there are no problems with the transfer, and cancel the old
account so you will not be billed again for it. Please note this can take up
to 24 hours to complete.

The second way would be to recreate your account as new on the MYSQL5
server, doing this would lose all data, email, and files on your
account. This would be instant and a welcome email would be sent out right
away with your new information.

Now that you understand how this works, which option would you like to
continue with?

Keep in mind if you have any sites or scripts that are not compatible
with mysql5, they will not work on this new server.

Obviously I don't want to start over and lose my accounts/data. But this whole thing has just got me worried that when i do give them to go ahead to transfer my account, it will end up losing data or wiping out my entire account or something.

Obviously I keep back-ups, but regrettably hostgator don't offer SSH/Telnet (aka the only full-proof way to create backups) on their shared servers. So you never know..it just seems like such a risk getting them to do this transfer for me - i've lost faith in them.

Basically, what i'm most concerned about is the last part that i've bolded, it's almost as if they're setting themselves up to fail. I have alot of plugins, GARS and vBA installed on my boards - let's say one element of my vB site isn't compatible with mysql5, will this cause irrepairable damage to my site?

Obviously this is worst case scenario, but hey, I worry about years of content going down the drain

Can anyone offer some constructive advise/opinion on what I should do and how to go about it?

[Reeve of Shinra]

Check the scripts your running and look around to see if anyone has had any issues with php5/mysql5

[Kier]

If Hostgator don't offer SSH access, perhaps your best bet would be to look for a host that does?

Let me give you one example of how SSH access makes your vBulletin life quicker and easier:

When installing or upgrading vBulletin, the 'standard' method is to download the new zip file from the members' area, unzip it on your local machine, then use FTP to upload the unzipped files. This takes ages, due to the sheer quantity of small files - something FTP handles particularly badly.

On the other hand, with SSH access, one can download the new zip package, upload the entire package to the server, then run the unzip command on the server, allowing the unzipped files to overwrite the old ones in-situ. This takes a matter of seconds, rather than the many minutes that uploading each unzipped file via FTP does.

Of course, one must remember to delete the vBulletin zip afterwards!

[Revolution Yes]

Thanks your advise Shinra, i'll do that

Kier, I think you're right. I'm going to look for a new host, one which has APC, PHP 5.2.5, Mysql 5 and SSH.

I didn't realise there was a 'quicker' way to upgrade vB - this would make my life alot easier, and the dual purpose (reliable backups and quicker upgrades) make it a must-have!

Thanks again, I think this is the best route to take. Now to find a reasonably priced host with all the above!

[Hossie]

On the other hand, with SSH access, one can download the new zip package, upload the entire package to the server

So why can't you generate a temporary url that you can paste your wget? This would be much less work if you have shell access.

[Kier]

So why can't you generate a temporary url that you can paste your wget? This would be much less work if you have shell access.

There are legal and licensing issues that would need to be addressed before I could put something like that in place.